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Inter Miami improves their playoff chances with a win against TFC

Inter Miami improves their chances of making the MLS Cup Playoffs with a 2-1 win on August 20, 2022

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Inter Miami improves their playoff chances with a 2-1 victory at DRV PNK Stadium. It was a team effort for Miami as they kept TFC’s offence scoreless in the second half.

Inter Miami improves their MLS Cup Playoff chances

Three keys to the game

First half

Richie Laryea and Federico Bernadeschi had great chemistry with each other, as they passed the ball to each other, resulting in Bernadeschi’s shot going wide of the target in the 12-minute. Lorenzo Insigne’s shot was blocked in the 13-minute.

Domenico Criscito made a terrific defensive play in the 18-minute with a great sliding play to intercept the pass. Miami got another corner in the 19-minute. Ryan Sailor made a terrific defensive play to put Bernadeschi’s pass out of play for a TFC corner in the 20-minute.

The first goal of the game came in the 24-minute. Gonzalo Higuaín passed the ball to Jean Mota. Mota though, shot the ball straight to the TFC goalkeeper, Alex Bono. The problem was the ball seemed to somehow get past Bono’s fingers and into the back of the net.

Fortunately, TFC was able to reply with a goal of their own. Lorenzo Insigne showed his moment of brilliance with a fantastic shot from a volley to tie the game. Miami defended well in the 37-minute. Richie Laryea created a foul in the 38-minute.

This was a very pretty goal scored by Inter Miami CF. Mota, the first goal-scorer, started the free-kick set-piece with a pass to Alejandro Pozuelo. Pozuelo then found Damion Lowe inside the box. Then, Lowe passes the ball to Ariel Lassiter. Lassiter then fired the shot past Bono, who got a touch, but was unable to keep from going into the back of the net.

Second half

Lowe made a terrific defensive play to win the ball from TFC’s Federico Bernardeschi. Criscito made a terrific tackle to save a third goal in the 69-minute.  Richie Laryea then made a good defensive play in the 72-minute. Gregore covered his centre-back and made a great defensive play to get back possession in the 72-minute. Bernardeschi delivered a great cross, but Bryce Duke was there to deal with it for Miami. Inter Miami CF defended well in the 75-minute.

Bernardeschi’s shot was intercepted by Inter Miami CF. Higuain’s shot was stopped by Richie Laryea in the 77-minute. Alejandro Pozuelo’s shot went straight to Bono in the 78-minute. Laryea won the ball in the 80-minute, but TFC could not capitalize on it. Insigne’s shot went straight to the Miami goalkeeper. Insigne tried to catch Callender off-guard, but he was well-prepared. Bernardeschi thought he earned a penalty as Miami’s 22 made a good defensive play.

Game Analysis

Toronto FC perspective – Their difficult position to make the MLS Cup Playoffs

With the loss, Toronto is four points behind the New England Revolution for an MLS Cup Playoffs spot. However, this fact does not show how far TFC is from making the playoffs.

TFC is now in a very tough position to try and make the MLS Cup Playoffs. First, they have played more games than most teams in the MLS Eastern Conference. Second, only three of their seven games are at home. For a team that has only won on the road twice, once against the HFX Wanderers FC in the Canadian Championship and also against Nashville SC in MLS play, they really need to pick it up. Lastly, Toronto needs to catch up to five teams in order to make the MLS Cup Playoffs spot.

If one wants to look at the bright side for TFC though, they have players that can make a difference like Insigne. They also played well enough to get a result on the road, especially in the first half. If not this year, these players can make things happen for TFC next year. Also, players, like Laryea and Criscito made some terrific individual defensive plays for the team.

Inter Miami improves their playoff chances with a 2-1 win

Meanwhile, Inter Miami CF got the result they wanted. They got a win and they are now in the fifth position of the Eastern Conference. The playoffs spot is not guaranteed as Columbus Crew SC is currently two points behind and has two games in hand while Orlando City SC is three points behind with a game in hand.

Toronto FC will now travel to Charlotte, to face Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium on August 27 at 7:08 p.m. ET. Additionally, the game will be shown live on WAXN and Telemundo. It will also be televised live on TSN. This is while Inter Miami CF will travel to Red Bull Arena to face the New York Red Bulls in Harrison, New Jersey, also on August 27. That game will also kick off at 7:08 p.m. ET and the game will be shown live on MLS Live on DAZN, MSG, and My33.

Three takeaways:

Inter Miami CF played really well defensively. Miami did well defensively, this was especially true in the second half. For example, Lowe made a great defensive play as he won the ball from Bernardeschi. Another was Gregore covering for his centre-back and winning the ball back for his team.

Toronto FC’s goalkeeper, Alex Bono, needs to play better. Mota’s goal should have been stopped by Bono. For it to slip past his hands is not acceptable at this level. For the second goal that was given up, the defence was also at fault. However, when Lassiter took a moment to gather the ball before shooting, it looked like Bono was caught off-guard and heading the wrong way for the second goal of the game. With the questionable second goal he gave up against the Revs, Bono knows he must be better.

Toronto FC had sixteen shots, but only four on target. The goal by Insigne was fantastic as TFC doubled the shots of Inter Miami. The problem was Toronto had four shots on goal, the same as Miami.

Photo Credit: Inter Miami CF on August 20, 2022.

 

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